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Old 05-28-2013 | 08:05 PM
  #47  
tejician1
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From: Alton, TX
Default RE: Flutter

Years ago, early 70's..many RC'rs flew a popular design called the UGLY STICK...The early STICKS had ailerons all the way out to both tips of their wing...and a few modelers that had a penchant to go Mach 2 with their hair on fire, they spent bigger bucks and installed one the new Schnerle ported fire breathing engines on their STICKS and shortly thereafter began experiencing FLUTTER..... Some of the RC club "wise guys" cautioned everyone to keep their aileron/elevator hinge lines tight to reduce FLUTTER.. That fix didn't entirely solve the problem and the Mach 2 guys still suffered from gross aileron/elevator vibrations on their STICKS.... Since I was a member of the local EAA chapter and had a modicum of aerodynamic learning & experience (engineering degrees sticking out of my ears and other orifices) I told them the FLUTTER problem was caused by TIP VORTICES or TIP RECIRCULATION and to cure the problem.. INSET or shorten the length of their ailerons to inside of the wingtip(s)...Several followed my advice and inset their ailerons and wouldn't ya know it.... VOILA'... The FLUTTER disappeared... But I still cautioned them, to assist in eliminating aedrodynamic FLUTTER...one must strive for a zero surface airleron/elevator gap to help cure the problem...then reduce the DOWNWARD movement of each aileron and increase the upward movement...referred to as AILERON THROW DIFFERENTIAL, Almost all RC modelers now own a computer radio which have the added ability to 'dial in' differential aileron deflection (ATV)..just takes a few moments to accomplish...